A review by samanthamccabe_
The Shutouts by Gabrielle Korn

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Adult dystopian fiction has a hard balance to strike these days — when the world is feeling particularly apocalyptic already, there needs to be a resonance and a message that goes beyond world-building just for world-building's sake. (Otherwise, I feel like I'm reading fanfiction about our imminent reality.) Gabrielle Korn nailed it, and managed to tiptoe the line between grave forewarning and hopefulness.

There were a few times that I felt like I was being bonked over the head a little too firmly with the "climate destruction is happening in front of our eyes" points via character monologues, but maybe that's just my own feeling because I already think about climate change all the time!!